We're doing a bucket list trip, taking the train from Toronto to Vancouver, and making a 5-night stop to explore the Canadian Rockies.

We plan to get off the train in Jasper, stay 2 nights, then drive our rental car to Banff for 2 nights, then back Jasper to get back on the train. The devil is always in the details...

1. We get to Jasper Sunday afternoon (if the train is on time) and plan to get a taxi to the Best Western for 2 nights. We will probably pick up a rental car on Monday, drive to Banff on Tuesday. I have no sense of how big Jasper is. Does this seem like a plan? how far from train to hotel, and then to car rental office? (probably Budget).

2. We head back to Jasper on Thursday, drop off the car and get back on the train Friday afternoon.
(Hotels already booked in Jasper and Banff)

Thanks for any insights you might have!

Here is a map: https://www.google.ca/maps/dir//Jasp...39!2d52.873383
You can play around with the directions, although being a wilderness it's short on places to connect. At the bottom right hand side of the map is a scale measure.
On a two-dimensional map, remember that the third may be straight up a mountain. Check the satellite view.

Jasper is very small. I stayed there without a car.

Thanks for the responses!

your plans sound excellant. have you travelled on via before? i've only traveled economy so slept in the seats. in that situation, i recommend bringing a pillow case that you can stuff with extra sweaters or something to make a pillow. i found the train cool at night so recommend bringing a light blanket. also, some snacks and a few drinks. earplugs are handy too.

Hi ltt - happy to say we have a room with 2 berths. I've done the train seat non-sleep, didn't want to do that again!

Here is a map showing the walking distance between the train station and the Best Western. It is a 13 min walk or a 2 min taxi ride.

https://goo.gl/maps/LmL8aFELbSG2

Between the hotel and the Budget office it is a longer walk, 16 min as the rental car office is past the train station.

https://goo.gl/maps/jr8wsAKUZ8q

However when you pick up the car on Monday you wouldn't have any luggage and when you drop off the car on Thursday you would drop of your luggage at the hotel before returning the car so you wouldn't need to carry any luggage between the hotel and the Budget office.

Southam your map is for the whole park and not the townsite.

Thanks Tofinosurfer, just what I need to know. Looks as if it would make most sense to pick up the car when we get off the train, to minimize luggage schlepping. Very helpful map images!

Sometimes elk wander into the town of Jasper. There are several grassy lots that are fenced which have gates so you can avoid getting attacked by an elk.
Once you have the luggage safely in your hotel, you can wander around town if the weather is nice.
If the car rentals are not open on Sunday, use a taxi to get your luggage to the hotel.